Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, named after Zambia's first president, is located approximately 27 km north-east of Lusaka, the country's capital.
It is Zambia's primary international gateway and handles virtually all intercontinental flights, while Livingstone (LVI) to the south remains the most direct access point to Victoria Falls.
How to get to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
By Car
By Train
By Bus
Average travel time to LUN
Parking near Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
Official parking is located adjacent to the terminal.
How to get to Lusaka from LUN
By Train
By Bus
By Taxi
Need an airport transfer?
Compare taxis and shuttles on Booking.com
Car rental at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
Leading car rental companies (including Avis and Europcar) have airport desks.
To rent, you need a license, passport, credit card, and typically also an IDP.
Hotels near Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
At the airport
The Protea Hotel is about 250 metres on foot from arrivals, with a free hotel shuttle as well; towards the rest of Lusaka the same 25 km and 30-40 minutes by taxi apply as from any other part of the city.
Best for: One-night layovers and dawn departures, when you want to reach check-in on foot without relying on a night taxi on the Great East Road.
- You walk to check-in from the hotel, with no need to risk a taxi at dawn or in the middle of the night
- Free hotel shuttle for the short distance to the terminal
- Only the airport perimeter around you: for dinner you stay at the hotel
- For an evening in Lusaka you still need 30-40 minutes by taxi, there and back
Arcades and Great East Road
About 20-25 km from the airport along the same Great East Road that leads into the centre, 20-30 minutes by taxi; the Radisson Blu is opposite the Arcades complex and the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, the two Proteas are inside the complex itself.
Best for: Business trips and conferences: for those who want the hotel, the shopping centre and the meeting room on the same block, without entering the traffic of the historic centre.
- Restaurants, supermarket and shops of the Arcades shopping centre within walking distance
- Less traffic and more parking than the streets of the historic centre
- For the National Museum or Cairo Road you still need a car or a taxi
- A district built for offices and conferences: little nightlife of its own outside the hotels
Recommended hotels
- Radisson Blu Hotel Lusaka Right opposite the Arcades complex and the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, with a 502 sqm ballroom for conferences; Green Key certified for its sustainability practices. View availability
- Protea Hotel by Marriott Lusaka Inside the Arcades Shopping and Entertainment Complex, about 3.7 km from the real centre of Lusaka; outdoor pool and gym for those moving only between hotel and meeting rooms. View availability
- Protea Hotel by Marriott Lusaka Tower A 10-storey tower in the same Arcades complex as the Protea Lusaka, sharing its location; useful as an alternative when the other one is full. View availability
City centre and business district
About 25-30 km from the airport, 30-40 minutes by taxi depending on traffic along the Great East Road; roughly the same distance applies to all the hotels in this area, from Cairo Road to Haile Selassie Avenue.
Best for: Those who want the real centre of Lusaka: Cairo Road, the National Museum and the embassy district within walking distance or a few minutes by taxi.
- Cairo Road, the National Museum and the banks of the centre within walking distance
- A district with more street life than the Arcades area
- The same 30-40 minute trip from the airport as any other area, without Arcades' advantage of being halfway there
- Some hotels are on busy streets: street-facing rooms can be noisy
Recommended hotels
- InterContinental Lusaka by IHG On Haile Selassie Avenue, in the district of embassies and ministries; fully renovated in 2022, with an adjoining golf course and a panoramic terrace. View availability
- Holiday Inn - Lusaka by IHG On the corner of Birdcage Walk and Haile Selassie Avenue, a 15-minute walk from the Fife Avenue Shopping Centre and Africa Unity Square. View availability
- Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka On the corner of Church Road and Independence Avenue, in the heart of the city for over 70 years; bank, bureau de change and car rental inside the hotel. View availability
- Protea Hotel by Marriott Lusaka Cairo Road On the real Cairo Road, the city's historic commercial street; 75 rooms with city views, handy for those who need to move on foot between the banks and shops of the centre. View availability
- Best Western Plus Paramount Hotel About 200 metres from the centre of Lusaka, at the start of the Great East Road; outdoor pool and gym in a mid-range hotel in the heart of the business district. View availability
Airport services
Shopping & Duty Free
Lounges & relaxation
Connectivity & Wi-Fi
Families & Children
Terminal guide
The terminal, expanded in recent years to match growing traffic, handles nearly all of Zambia's international connections.
To avoid complications, arrive 3 hours ahead on international flights.
Map of Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is there a malaria risk in Lusaka?
In the capital, located on a plateau at moderate altitude, the risk is generally lower than in the national park areas and the Zambezi Valley: still discuss it with a travel doctor before departing, especially if your itinerary continues into the country's natural areas.
Q. Is Lusaka Airport useful for visiting Victoria Falls?
No, it's better to land at Livingstone (LVI), much closer to the falls: Lusaka is the country's main international airport but is hundreds of kilometers from the falls.
Q. Why is Lusaka Airport called Kenneth Kaunda?
It's named after Zambia's first president, Kenneth Kaunda, who held office from independence in 1964 until 1991.
Q. Do you need a visa to enter Zambia via Lusaka?
Check the specific rules for your nationality: Zambia has adopted an open tourism policy, but some requirements remain in effect depending on your country of origin.
Flight board
Real-time status of arriving and departing flights